Chinese ginseng culture captivates guests at UN

An event showcasing traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) was held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, on Oct. 29, the day of the Double Ninth Festival, also known as China's Seniors' Day.

The event was jointly hosted by the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations Office in Geneva, the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of China, the Jilin Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Jilin provincial government.

It centered on ginseng, dubbed the "king of herbs," from the Changbai Mountains in northeast China's Jilin Province, offering a glimpse into China's health and wellness philosophy and its deep-rooted reverence for older people.

A video produced by People's Daily Online shows innovative ginseng-inspired dishes from northeast China's Jilin Province. (People's Daily Online)

A video produced by People's Daily Online took audiences into the world of ginseng and showcased a culinary celebration built around the herb.

A video about ginseng culture plays for guests at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland, Oct. 29, 2025. (Photo/People's Daily Online)

The video featured a wellness restaurant in Huinan county, Tonghua city, Jilin Province, where 116 ginseng-infused dishes drew crowds of locals and tourists eager to taste them.

By combining ginseng with traditional cooking techniques, chefs created visually appealing dishes rich in flavor, embodying the traditional TCM principle that "food and medicine share the same origin."

A presenter displays ginseng products and traditional tools at the Chinese medicine event, Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland, Oct. 29, 2025. (Photo/People's Daily Online)

Guests attending the event learned about ginseng picking in the Changbai Mountains, a national-level intangible cultural heritage in China, through a presentation. They also sampled ginseng products such as ginseng essence and honeyed ginseng slices while learning about their health benefits. During an interactive Q&A session, they exchanged ideas with TCM experts, gaining deeper insight into the philosophy and practical applications of TCM.

Guests discuss ginseng products at an exhibition booth, Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland, Oct. 29, 2025. (Photo/People's Daily Online)

Guests sample ginseng pastries at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland, Oct. 29, 2025. (Photo/People's Daily Online)

A traditional medicine practitioner offers health consultations to guests at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland, Oct. 29, 2025. (Photo/People's Daily Online)

The participants also made Zhuyu (Cornus officinalis) sachets, symbolizing good luck and protection from illness, and experienced massage and acupuncture treatments. Performances of Tai Chi and Baduanjin, traditional Chinese exercises, captivated attendees.